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Freire brings an impressive 14-1 record to this tournament (Photo courtesy of Bellator).

Featherweight Tournament Kicks Off in March

The upcoming Bellator Fighting Championships Featherweight Tournament continues to take shape, with the promotion announcing that Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (14-1) is now set to battle in the competition. A three-match veteran under the Bellator banner, Freire now looks to work his way through the tournament to avenge the only loss of his professional career, which was at the hands of current champion Joe Warren.

“Patricio Pitbull is a great fighter,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “He was seconds away from beating one of the top two featherweights on earth, and that loss was his only defeat as a professional. I know that his sole focus is winning this tournament and earning the opportunity to avenge his loss to our champion Joe Warren. He’s going to be fun to watch fight this season.”

Working his way through a number of different promotions, Freire raced out to a 14-0 record before suffering a split decision loss to Warren at Bellator 23 by the slimmest of margins.

“The time to show what I am all about is coming,” Freire confirmed. “To win this tournament would mean a dream coming true. I can honestly say that I am more confident for this season than I was last year. Last year, I got close, this year it’s mine!”

Training with Team Noguiera out of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, Freire is well versed in the world of combat sports. Among the impressive accomplishments on his resume include his being a two-time International Kickboxing Champion, Brazilian Cup Jiu-Jitsu Champion and also a Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu. While his background has made himself a perfect fit for the world of Mixed Martial Arts, Freire insists that much can be done to improve his overall game.

“I have no interest besides fighting as a professional,” Freire remarked. “It's the only thing I really want to do. Every day in my life, I am looking to overcome myself and evolve into a better fighter. I never believe that I am good enough. It's all about improvement, every single day.”

Freire is the seventh confirmed participant in the Bellator Featherweight Tournament, joining Wilson Reis (who he has defeated), Daniel Straus, Georgi Karakhanyan, Kenny Foster, Eric Larkin and Zac George. The competition will get underway in March, with each match being aired live on MTV2.